Sudden in-hospital death after acute myocardial infarction in cuba in the past 3 years: Analysis of institutional records

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze possible predisposing causes of in-hospital sudden cardiac death (SCD) after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Cuban registries. Materials and methods: A search of clinical records of patients with AMI in Cuba was performed in the databases of national journals, Scientific Library On-line and Medline. Those articles published since 2016 were prioritized for inclusion. Sudden death (SD) is defined as that secondary to malignant ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation) as well as patients with cardiac rupture with pulseless electrical activity or asystole as a form of presentation. Subsequently, the relationship of this parameter with the occurrence of SD was evaluated in 710 patients from the Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes. Results: In the out-of-hospital setting, more than half of SCD are secondary to an AMI. Once in the hospital, mortality in Cuba from AMI is homogeneous. Only centers with coronary interventionism escape this phenomenon. Although not totally lethal, the presence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias is associated with a worse prognosis and its prevalence is not homogeneous in the reviewed records. Conclusions: SD after AMI will continue to be one of the main causes of death of patients in the acute phase in Cuba.